Mike Klan
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) –
Segment 1: Arroyo Grande 23, Bakersfield 20 (OT). Eagles win CIF-Central Section Division 2 Championship
Immanuel 48, Templeton 7: CIF-CS Division 4 Championship
Segment 2: Pacifica 20, Palos Verdes 10. Tritons win CIF-Southern Section Division 3 Championship
Grace 48, Santa Paula 16. Lancers win CIF-Southern Section Division 12 Championship
Caleb Nguyen
GOLETA, Calif. (KEYT) – A single house fire displaced five people at the 100 block of St. George Place just before 9:00 p.m. Friday, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.
Fire crews knocked the flames down about a half hour later and contained the fire to just two rooms without any reported injuries, according to the SBCFD.
SBCFD personnel remained on scene and notified the Red Cross to help the five people displaced from the home.
More updates on the fire will be provided as they become available to Your News Channel.
Patricia Martellotti
VENTURA, Calif. (KEYT) – The Salvation Army launched its annual Red Kettle Campaign in Ventura today, urging volunteers to tackle surging community demands for aid.
As more families facing food insecurity, rent struggles, and emergencies amid climbing costs, organizers held a kickoff event downtown to rally support.
Every hour volunteered and dollar donated stays local, fueling year-round help like meals and housing assistance.
Red Kettles will dot stores and shopping centers countywide through Christmas Eve, directly funding crisis relief programs.
To get involved or donate, contact the Ventura Corps at (805) 659-3598.[ventura.salvationarmy]
John Palminteri
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – While fast shopping online is a quick fix for some people, in-person is still unmatched for the real-life experience.
That’s the annual holiday split that’s underway now.
If there was any evidence of the strength on in-person shopping, it was at many outlet centers and some traditional department stores on the Central Coast.
There were 6 a.m. store openings today, with lines forming last night to be the first to get the best deals or an early bird price.
Throughout the day early season discounts have been found with customers saying a 20 percent sale price is good, but 50 percent or more will definitely get them through the door.
Goleta’s Camino Real Marketplace and the Collection in Oxnard were solid with cars all day.
Downtown Santa Barbara has the Paseo Nuevo with some chain stores and many specialty shops but it does not have the once-popular anchor stores, Macy’s and Nordstrom.
The remaining Macy’s in Santa Barbara is at the La Cumbre Plaza, which also has many art and home furnishings choices.
Paige Miller is the Creations Boutique Manager in downtown Santa Barbara. She says they offer a personal shopping experience. “We’re doing a sip and shop offer drinks, we always welcome everybody in to the store, offering everyone a fitting room.”
When it comes to boutiques or locally made items, it’s hard to shop side by side with something on line and that’s where local employees can assist or bring out different styles and sizes right on the spot.
There’s also deals that come up on the spot. Miller said, “it gets people in. It is the first thing people see outside of our store. Putting some things out there that are selling well that people like and having a clearance rack as well.”
The Game Seeker will have its Grand Opening in a new location Saturday at 920 State Street. Up the way on the same block, the Italian Pottery Outlet has a storewide 20 percent off sale through Monday. In the 400 block Zoe Bikini is a boutique that includes dresses, jewelry and trucker hats with large colorful hearts. It is closing out in the next month and items are selling at a reduced price.
Nationwide sales online are already showing a strong start according to analysts in many states.
Some shoppers are concerned about returning an on line item if it’s not what they want.
Charlie Brier was shopping in person but also goes on line. “On line you can have some problems. If you order something and it doesn’t come. It happened to me two weeks ago so I want to have money back please.”
Martin Diaz said, “I have clothes that I’ve never worn before. Sometimes it is like the hassle – returning on line.”
For a taller shopper like Carolyne Erlach and her brother Daniel, “I prefer to be able to shop in person and try things on so we’re both very tall so it is very hard to find things in store that fit.”
Daniel said he likes to get off his computer and shop in person to see the community, and the downtown scene.
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Jarrod Zinn
SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – The holiday spirit is sweeping across the Central Coast, ushering in 2025’s Christmas season.
Some of the most popular spots have transformed.
Santa Claus arrived in downtown San Luis Obispo Friday afternoon, kicking off his daily hours at Mission Plaza.
“Day one, this seems to be a very popular day today,” says Dean Klintgaard with Solvang’s Visitor Center. “We’ve got a lot of visitors and most people have enjoyed a great Thanksgiving. And so now they’re ready to go on to the next phase of the holidays, which of course is Christmas.”
The Pismo Beach Pier is fully decked with their boughs of holly, and a giant light tree, which really dazzles after sundown.
“We got another Thanksgiving tomorrow, so we’re going to head back today and prepare for that,” says Joe Saminski, visiting with his friend Jackie Fitzhenry from their home in Sacramento. “But back up to Sacramento where it’s having 54 degrees and foggy. So we’re trying to extend this warm weather as much as we can before heading back.”
And the annual Solvang Julefest kicked off as The Zoe Report Jet-Set Readers’ Choice Awards declared them number one of the ‘Best Christmas towns in the US.’
“In Danish we say ‘glædelig jul,’ that’s part of the language of heaven,” says Klintgaard. “Glædelig jul!”
For in-person experiences of holiday spirit, locals and tourists agree you simply can’t beat the various Central Coast options during the winter months.
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Jarrod Zinn
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (KEYT) – As you let your thanksgiving meal digest, you may want to cue your holiday playlists and get ready for an evening in downtown San Luis Obispo.
Now that everyone has had their turkey and some families may be dozing off as we speak, Santa and his elves have been busy preparing for their first appearance in downtown San Luis Obispo, this weekend.
The lights are hung at Mission Plaza, and downtown SLO is ready for 2025’s holiday season.
“We love the community and it’s so rewarding to see everybody walk through,” says Maggie Kovach, Downtown SLO’s Events Manager. “But it certainly couldn’t happen without the hard work of our team, the city, and all of our sponsors.”
Santa will hold his daily hours at Mission Plaza from 1pm to 6:30pm this year, so plenty of kids can have a chance to deliver their wishes directly to him.
“Everything opens up on Friday,” says Kovach. “Santa rides in on a fire truck and greets just really excited kids. We’ll kick the house off at one and then at 5 p.m. we have our light up the plaza ceremony.”
After the sun goes down some of the magic will really kick in here at the San Luis Obispo Creek Walk with a new overhead pathway of lights, fixtures that will enhance the depth at the creek bed, and holiday patterns on the Warden Bridge.
“It’s wonderful to come every year, but it’s always nice if there’s something new that shows up,” says Justine Carlson, who lives in San Luis Obispo.
“Well, I just love how quaint and cozy it is and how lovely the store fronts are,” says Fen Zhao, who is visiting from Los Angeles. “I’m from L.A., so it’s not quite as cozy, let’s just say.”
For the Black Friday weekend, a ‘Shop Local’ contest commemorates Santa’s arrival, with a chance to win a grand prize.
“We actually have a whole activation going on through the weekend for ‘Shop Small Saturday,’” says Kovach. “If people stop by the downtown. So office between on Chorro Street, between Eureka and FedEx, you can pick up a tote bag. Every three stores that you visit, you will actually be entered in a giveaway with a grand prize that we’re really excited about. A one night stay at Hotel Cerro and some other very fun things.”
Whether you’re doing some of your holiday shopping or taking the family out for fine dining and quality time in the Central Coast outdoor environment, downtown San Luis Obispo has something for everyone.
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Tracy Lehr
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) Chicken Little decked its windows for the 48th year thanks to regular customers.
Courtney Drake shopped with her baby girl and family.
“This is where we get all of our stuff, it is our hometown stuff, it is where we find all of our personalized goodies,” said Drake.
Chicken Little owner Jennifer Bouma enjoys seeing generations of customers.
“It is so joyful, so fun to see the people through the years and the kids grow up and help fulfill that joy,” said Bouma.
She said popular items include Jelly Cat stuffed animals and Maileg mice.
There are also Santa Baby onsies and tiny T-shirts that say Santa Barbara.
People of a certain age like seeing young people shop in person.
Logan Brady said his family went shopping together.
“We love State Street, so it is a great place to shop, the community is really nice, so I thought this is a good place to go,” said Brady, ” I just got a little coat that is pretty nice and I got a hat for myself too, so it is a good day.”
Metro Entertainment workers planted comics around town to attract customers.
They call it gorilla advertising.
The store will be open on Thanksgiving Day from 11-3 p.m. , giving people something to do before Thanksgiving dinner.
The store that has a Comic Club is stocked with Pokeman and more.
Vincent Vazquez enjoys checking out all the choices.
“It feels so much more refreshing to just walk around, look for things. It is an experience in itself and it is just so much better than sitting at home and putting something in a cart and waiting for it to get there,” said Vazguez.
Happy Burney who works at Unity Shoppe said the day before Thanksgiving was busy.
“Always remember the small businesses here in Santa Barbara and we are a nonprofit,” said Burney, “We were so busy.”
She said people stocked up on clothing, dishes and glasses for there table.
The Central Coast is also home to some major brands including Uggs, and Hoka in Goleta and Patagonia in Ventura.
That allows people to shop in person at their headquarter stores.
The owners of brick and mortar stores are thankful for in person shoppers.
Mike Klan
LONG BEACH, Calif. (KEYT) – No. 4 seed UC Santa Barbara swept fifth-seeded CSUN 3-0 on Wednesday at the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid in the first round of The Hawaiian Islands presents the 2025 Outrigger Big West Women’s Volleyball Championship.
With the win, the Gauchos improve to 23-8 on the season and advance to take on top-seeded UC Davis on Friday at 3 p.m. in the semifinals. In just the third iteration of The Big West postseason event, the victory marks UCSB’s first, falling in the semifinals in 2023 and narrowly missing the field in 2024.
UC Santa Barbara dominated the first set with a commanding 7-0 start, capitalizing on three attack errors by CSUN’s Leah Miller and a service ace from Michelle Zhao. Big West Freshman of the Year Gabi Martinez registered two kills early in the set, and the Gauchos maintained pressure with solid blocking to claim the 25-13 win in the first.
UCSB leveraged a strong defensive performance to earn a 25-17 set victory in the second frame. The Gauchos’ Emma McDermott and Jordyn Johnson combined for critical blocks and Zhao served up two aces to keep the advantage late in the set.
The terminal frame saw another key 6-0 run for the UCSB offense. Eva Travis played a pivotal role, registering four kills, while All-Big West First Team performer Layanna Green contributed with a crucial block that thwarted CSUN’s attack. Kiersten Schmitt sealed the set with a kill from Zhao.
Travis emerged as a key contributor for the UCSB team, leading the offensive efforts with 12 kills and a hitting percentage of .500, while adding a pair of aces. Five players finished the night with multiple blocks with McDermott tallying six total blocks, including one solo, with freshman Jordyn Johnson in on seven total blocks.
All told, UC Santa Barbara recorded a .296 attack percentage while amassing 13 total blocks as CSUN managed just .036 hitting in the match.
Hailey Brockway led the Matadors with 11 kills and a match-high nine digs with senior Leah Miller adding seven kills to the stat sheet. Taylor Dunlap and Katie Kolar combined for 24 assists in the match with Paige Sentes digging out nine balls for the CSUN defense. The Matadors cap the season with a 17-13 overall record and their first appearance in The Big West Championship bracket.
(Article courtesy of Big West).
Jarrod Zinn
BUELLTON, Calif. (KEYT) – The city of Buellton is spearheading an urban forestry initiative.
In pursuit of Tree City U.S.A. designation, Buellton seeks to establish a procedural framework for communities to maintain and expand their urban forests.
“The concept of urban forestry refers to the planting, care, and maintenance of trees within an urban environment within the city proper,” says Scott Wolfe, Buellton’s City Manager.
City leaders say that overall this is an effort to streamline policies and ordinances that currently are as scattered as naturally grown trees themselves.
“The big desire, too, is to ensure their native plants are species that will really thrive in the area,” says Buellton’s mayor David Silva. “So it’s not just putting trees in the ground, it’s putting trees that will really stand the test of time and meet the moment as we work to ensure that our town is climate resilient.”
Mayor Silva proposes putting together drafts of several of tree-related policies, and then combining them into one streamlined community effort for mitigation, upkeep, and future growth.
“The Tree City USA designation is granted by the Arbor Day Foundation, and it’s really a way to showcase cities that are leading the way in prioritizing trees as not just an ancillary part of their policies,” says mayor Silva.
City leaders hope to establish a method to oversee these efforts, as well as to enhance the mediation of disputes related to tree removal.
“Part of the ordinance that the city council’s in the process of adopting right now creates or codifies the creation of a tree and landscape advisory board,” says Wolfe.
During the November city council session, the policy passed with a unanimous vote.
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John Palminteri
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Unless you are in an isolated place away from the general population, or don’t plan on going out much this weekend, you could find yourself entangled in some big crowds.
The early data shows there will be at or near record travelers on trains, planes and in automobiles. From the Automobile Association of America (AAA) to ticket reservations from airlines analysts know seats will be filled and people will be in motion.
Highway 101 has already been showing signs of more cars filling the lanes, from the local population to the travelers on this coastal north-south route. Normally the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is one of the busiest times to travel but the Sunday after Thanksgiving has now been given the honor as the busiest day.
They says a good time to travel is Thanksgiving morning when the roads are generally clear.
Caltrans construction will not be taking place Wednesday evening or Thursday.
Amtrak is adding extra cars to its trains in Southern California. Among those that will be riding on the Central Coast will be students from UC Santa Barbara on the southbound train around 1:45 p.m. Traditionally they have filled the cars for that getaway afternoon train.
One Santa Barbara City College student Eila Andresen was getting set for her train ride south and said, “I think the train is the most reliable. It only ever gets delayed a little bit sometimes. It not a big deal. “
She had a seat assigned for this trip but has had to stand in a crowded train in the past. “People get off at LA and after that so that is perfectly half way on my trip,” said Andresen.
One family coming up from the Los Angeles area did not want to do it in the car and said they made the right choice with their kids.
Ben Duckett said, “the trip were perfect, easy and these guys were great. Not too crowded. Everyone was in a good mood, just going to celebrate Thanksgiving.”
A Washington D.C. resident on an extended stay in Santa Barbara said, many family members were on the way. Joel Sarfati said, “all the family is coming in. So were going to have 14 for Thanksgiving. One group just came from Salt Lake City, another from either SLO and from Phoenix, and third group landed in Los Angeles from Seattle.”
Santa Barbara weather was forecasted to be in the 70’s.
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